4 important reasons to give positive feedback

Let’s talk about positive feedback.

Is it really necessary?

Shouldn’t the people on your team be intrinsically motivated?

Alternatively, is positive feedback a really important part of your role as a leader?

This is the exact debate that I had in a recent workshop that I facilitated with a group of leaders.

So, I took a vote.

The result was 50/50.

50% of the group felt positive feedback was not really that necessary.
The other 50% of the group often use positive feedback as a tool to motivate and engage their team.

I was really surprised by the number of leaders in this group who are not giving positive feedback at all.

In fact, one of the participants said that positive feedback is a waste of time or a “personal tax” that he has to pay to be a leader.

I then reviewed the DiSC Profile for each of these participants. It turned out that many of the leaders who prioritize tasks over relationships were not giving much positive feedback.

The leaders who prioritize relationships at work were definitely giving positive feedback.

The result of my non-scientific analysis came down to work style.

So, let’s do a reality check.

Not everyone needs to receive positive feedback.

However, just because you DON’T need positive feedback does not excuse you from giving it to others.

As a leader, you MUST take the time to give positive feedback, especially to the people who value recognition for their hard work.

But rest assured, it’s not something that you need to be giving gratuitously. There is a time and a place for positive feedback.

So, here are some parameters that you can follow.

It’s important to give positive feedback to:

Confirm that someone is heading in the right direction on a task or project
Show someone that you are noticing their hard work…especially when they are going the extra mile
Tell someone that their actions are having a positive impact on the team or the project
Acknowledge that someone is working hard at developing themselves

So, are you giving positive feedback at all?

Are there some opportunities for you to give more positive feedback?

Who on your team would value receiving positive feedback…even if it isn’t something you need?

Vanessa Judelman

Vanessa Judelman is an author, coach, and sought-after leadership expert. Over the past 20 years, she has created a proven formula to develop results-oriented leaders who feel empowered and confident in their job. Vanessa is the author of Mastering Leadership: What It Takes to Lead in Today’s Fast-Paced World. Order your copy here.